Initial Research Curtailment (MARCH 2020)
The university curtailed on-campus research, scholarship and creative activities on its Vancouver and Okanagan campuses on March 24, 2020. The research community was directed to work remotely. The only on-campus research activities able to continue were those receiving an on-campus research exemption for COVID-19 research and other critical research and maintenance activities.
In April 2020, the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation convened a series of town halls to enable every faculty member to engage in discussions regarding advanced planning for phased resumption of on-campus research, scholarly and creative activities.
The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation also convened four working groups, consisting of Associate Deans, Research from both campuses to consider issues relating to the impacts of COVID-19 and research curtailment on funding, career progression, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and shared research facilities.
PHASED RESUMPTION (JUNE 2020)
The first stage of a gradual resumption of research activities began in June, 2020.
The plan for resuming on-campus research consisted of stages, each of which could only be enacted if consistent with public health conditions at that time. Due to the unpredictability of the COVID-19 situation, there was no assumption that there would be a linear progression through the stages and a return to curtailment raimed a possibility.
The first stage, which began in June, 2020 provided only limited access to on-campus facilities and adhered to strict physical distancing protocols.
- Faculties developed a plan for a first stage of resumption, in which limited access was provided to those requiring on-site resources for their research programs. Faculties were asked to target a per-person occupancy of research spaces ~ 1/3 of normal research occupancy. Faculty research resumption plans had to address all public health guidelines and directives.
- Steering committees were formed on each campus. These committees facilitated and reviewed plans for WorkSafe BC compliance in coordination with Safety and Risk Services (SRS) (Vancouver campus) / Campus Operations and Risk Management (CORM) (Okanagan campus).
- Once a Faculty's research resumption plan was approved, a Faculty could proceed to implementing the plan. Communication of the enactment of this stage of on-campus research resumption was done at the Faculty level.
A Comparison between Research Curtailment and Stage 1 of Research Resumption
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Research Curtailment
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Research Resumption Stage 1
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Who can conduct on-campus research?
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Those receiving an on-campus research exemption for COVID-19 research and critical research and maintenance activities
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Researchers requiring access to on-campus resources and prioritized in Faculty stage1 plan
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Who determines access?
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Exemption requests approved by VPRI
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Faculties identify priority needs for on-campus access
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How many researchers can access on-campus resource?
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Only those receiving exemptions
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We anticipate approximately 1/3 usual research occupancy overall
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Is conducting in-person research with human participants permitted?
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Research Ethics Boards provide guidance on protocols with restrictions on in-person human participant research
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Additional review and the creation of a safe research plan may now be required prior to submission for ethics approval for both new and resuming studies. Please visit the BREB website for the latest guidance on conducting behavioural research. For clinical research at any of the UBC affiliated Health Authority sites, please visit the website for the appropriate clinical board.
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Is conducting fieldwork permitted?
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Faculties recommend exemptions to allow fieldwork in accordance with all public safety directives. Approved by VPRI.
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Faculties approve specific fieldwork requests in accordance with all public safety directives.
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Office access
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Individual Faculties have specific procedures in place.
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Individual Faculties have specific procedures in place.
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When are these phases beginning?
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Curtailment started on March 24, 2020
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Plans can start to be enacted after VPRI/VPA approval starting in early June, 2020
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SUBSEQUENT PHASED EXPANSION OF ON-CAMPUS RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
Expanding access to a greater number of researchers and scholars was predicated on the direction and guidance from the Provincial Health Officer. In subsequent stages, expansion of on-campus research activity at the Faculty level needs to be mindful of the potential intersection of access requirements for on-campus teaching and instruction and must be consistent with the individual Faculty Safety Plans.